Heritage Language Programs - Spanish
University of Houston
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Department of Modern and Classical Languages
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Address: 413 Agnes Arnold Hall, Houston, TX 77204-3006
Telephone: (713) 743-3244
Fax: (713) 743-0935
Web address: www.class.uh.edu/mcl/faculty/fairclough
Contact Person: Dr. Marta Fairclough, Assistant Professor, Spanish Linguistics
Email: mfairclough@uh.edu
Telephone: (713) 743-3244
Fax: (713) 743-0935
Type of institution: Research University
Languages/dialects taught: Spanish
Courses:
• Parallel sequence of beginning, intermediate and advanced courses for heritage learners
• Graduate seminars
o Teaching Spanish to Spanish Speakers
o Research in Heritage Language Education
Program Description
Purposes and goals of the program: The goal of the heritage language track is to build upon the language base that students bring to the classroom and to develop students’ knowledge of academic Spanish.
Type of program: A heritage language track within a foreign language program
Program origin: The program was founded twelve years ago in response to the large number of heritage learners enrolling in Spanish language courses.
Faculty’s and administration’s expectations for the program: Faculty have high expectations for the students in the heritage track.
Students
Countries of origin: 50% of students are from Mexico. The others are from the United States, Central and South America.
Total student enrollment: 200 per semester
Age of students: The majority of students are between 18 and 30 years old.
How the program identifies heritage speakers: Self identification
How the program determines the language background and language proficiency of students:
• Background questionnaire
• Placement Test
• Oral Interview
Percentage of students who continue to study the heritage language after completing the program: Unknown
Students’ attitudes toward the language varieties they speak: Many U.S. born students have negative feelings about their Spanish proficiency.
Faculty
Number of faculty in the program: 5
Languages in which faculty members are proficient: Spanish and English
Proficiency level: Superior level in Spanish is required
Credentials: M.A. and Ph.D.
Professional development opportunities for faculty members: The director of the heritage language program offers training and guidance to the faculty.
Professional development opportunities faculty members need:
• Training in teaching methods,
• information on sociolinguistics
• information on U.S. Spanish
Instruction
Total contact hours per week: 3
Times per week: 3
Student grouping: Students are grouped into beginning, intermediate, and advanced courses.
Language skills
Skills developed by the program:
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing
Levels of language proficiency reached by the end of the program: Most students reach the advanced level.
Culture
Aspects of culture taught:
• History
• Customs
• Songs
• Literature
Content courses offered for heritage speakers: Business and translation
Kind of student identity fostered by program: Bicultural identity
Methodologies
Methodologies and instructional strategies used in the program:
• Contrastive analysis between Standard Spanish and various dialects
• Translation
Materials
Textbooks:
• Mosaicos (Prentice Hall)
• Conozcamonos (Heinle)
• Palabra Abierta (Houghton Mifflin)
Technology used for instruction:
• Language Lab
• Internet
Assessment
Assessments used to evaluate students’ progress:
• Weekly quizzes
• Chapter tests
• Mid-term tests
• Final exams
• University developed tests
Opportunities for using the heritage language and developing cultural knowledge outside the program: Students are able to use their language skills and cultural knowledge in the community.
What the program has in place
Types of financial support the program receives: Institutional support
Desired assistance or collaboration for program from other entities: Outside grants
System for graduating students and granting credit: Course credits are awarded
Faculty research on heritage language issues: Both faculty and graduate students conduct research on Spanish as a heritage language.
Special challenges
Challenges the program has experienced: Placement is the biggest challenge.
